Volkswagen's Innovation and Engineering Center California recently partnered with Autodesk to redesign the iconic 1962 VW Microbus. Autodesk's generative design software empowered engineers and designers to easily optimize designs, as the software can create design options based on user parameters.
Autodesk's Fusion 360 software was used to successfully reduce the weight often BW 162 Microbus. Specifically, the system created a lighter wheel design which reduces the mass of the car and reduces rolling resistance in the tires. The wheels were 18% lighter than previous versions. Other improvements included a reworked steering wheel, bench support structures, and external mirror mounts.
Andrew Morandi, a senior product designer for Volkswagen Group, spoke about implementing generative design, "With generative design it’s possible to create structures that we, as human designers and engineers, could never have created otherwise."
Image Credit: Volkswagen/ Autodesk
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Generative Design
- Using generative design software to optimize designs and create structures that human designers couldn't have imagined.
- Weight Reduction
- Utilizing generative design software to reduce weight in vehicles, improving fuel efficiency and performance.
- Innovative Wheel Design
- Creating lighter wheel designs through generative design, enhancing vehicle performance and reducing rolling resistance.
Sectors Adopting This
- Automotive
- Implementing generative design technology in the automotive industry to enhance vehicle design and performance.
- Product Design
- Leveraging generative design software for product design, enabling the creation of unique and optimized structures.
- Engineering
- Applying generative design to engineering processes to unlock innovative and efficient design solutions.
